Ventura Fueled by Momentum of First-Round Upset on Road : Division II girls: Cougars to visit Bakersfield North for regional semifinal on heels of win at El Cajon Valley.

The Ventura High girls’ basketball team, which pulled off a first-round upset after a long bus ride, will make another such journey today for the semifinals of the Southern California Division II regional when the Cougars visit Bakersfield North for a 7:30 p.m. game.

Fifth-seeded Ventura (24-4) upset second-seeded El Cajon Valley on Tuesday, 71-66. Bakersfield North (24-5), the Central Section Division II runner-up, defeated Woodbridge, 57-47, Tuesday.

Against El Cajon Valley, Cori Herman, a 5-foot-7 senior guard who averages 16.7 points, scored 19 points for the second game in a row, including three three-point baskets. She also had 19 in a 50-42 loss to Brea-Olinda in the Southern Section II-AA Division championship game Saturday.

Annika Dukes, a 5-11 senior center, was held scoreless against Brea-Olinda but responded with 11 points and 10 rebounds against El Cajon Valley.

North is led by sisters Lorraine and Alexis Ash, both senior guards, and center Amy Elkins.

Lorraine Ash scored a game-high 15 points against Woodbridge, which fell victim to North’s full-court press and failed to score a field goal in the second quarter.

“That’s our game,” North Coach Curt DeRossett said. “If we rotate well on the press, we’re tough.”